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The first Review ofthe Camping Management Byelaws is due to be submitted to the Scottish Government by 1st March 2027. As part of that Review this consultation will gather views on proposed changes to the Byelaws

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In 2023, there were 433,000 overnight trips in Scotland by domestic visitors that included a visit to a National Park.

On this page, you will find information from the Scotland Visitor Survey which explores the visitor experience

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1. Scotland Visitor Survey 2023

In 2023, we commissioned the Scotland Visitor Survey to gather insight on visitor attitudes and behaviours. The survey explores all aspects of the visitor experience in Scotland. The scope of the survey was leisure overnight visitors only.

The survey also allows us to explore the experiences of visitors to regions of Scotland. To maximise the sample size for analysis, the results for the national parks are based on overnight visitors to Scotland who visited a national park. They may not have stayed overnight within the park itself.

Information is also available at a Scotland level on a variety of topics including motivations, planning and booking, travel, attractions, food and drink and satisfaction. Detail on the background and study methodology is also available.

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Scotland's National Parks - Research | VisitScotland.org

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Explore research and statistics on tourism in Scotland's national parks. Including Scotland Visitor Survey data, methodology, additional resources, and more.

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This report provides an overview of the work of the National Park and Ranger Service to respond to another very busy summer season and the impacts that brings.

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A short film introduction explaining the major land uses and an introduction to the Highland Boundary Fault at Conic Hill

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The National Park Partnership Plan 2024-2029 is different from previous Park Plans. This is because we are facing unprecedented challenges for our communities, economy, climate and nature.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The National Park is a unique place and a special landscape. Things are, and should be, done differently here to maximise benefits that can be provided for nature, climate and people.

The National Park Partnership Plan guides how all of those with a role to play in looking after the National Park will work together to manage the Park and achieve a shared vision for the area.

The National Park Partnership Plan 2024-2029 is different from previous Park Plans. This is because we are facing unprecedented challenges for our communities, economy, climate and nature.

This Plan sets out what these challenges are, why it's so important to face up to them and how we will take action together over the next five years to set the National Park on course to a more positive future.

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National Park Plan - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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The Climate Emergency is having a real impact on the National Park and the people who live, work and visit here. More frequent flooding and landslips are damaging people’s homes, communities, businesses and lifeline transport links. It also threatens nature, with some habitats and species struggling to adapt to the warmer, wetter climate. Failing to reduce emissions and limit global warming will result in more of these impacts, including severe droughts, heatwaves, storms and rainfall.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The Climate Emergency is having a real impact on the National Park and the people who live, work and visit here.

Challenge

The Climate Emergency is having a real impact on the National Park and the people who live, work and visit here. More frequent flooding and landslips are damaging people's homes, communities, businesses and lifeline transport links. It also threatens nature, with some habitats and species struggling to adapt to the warmer, wetter climate. Failing to reduce emissions and limit global warming will result in more of these impacts, including severe droughts, heatwaves, storms and rainfall.

Solution

We need to reduce emissions as far as possible and balance this with carbon capture to reach a total of net zero emissions in the National Park. However, the superpower of the National Park is that it has the capacity to go even further than this and become a place that absorbs carbon. To do this we need to address things like how people travel to, from and around the National Park as this is a major source of carbon emissions. We need to change how land is used, encourage more sustainable tourism and support greener ways for people to live and work here. We also need to restore habitats such as woodlands, peatlands and waterbodies so that they are healthier and more resilient to change.

Goal

The goal is for the National Park to be Carbon Negative, becoming a natural, carbon sink. This would reduce the impacts of the Climate Emergency here in the National Park and help Scotland and the wider world reach its ambitious climate targets.

Steps

Reduce peatland emissions

Increase Tree Cover

Restore the Water Environment

Support more Regenerative Land Use

Invest in Nature Restoration

Inspire action for nature and climate

Deliver a multi-year Place Programme

Improve travel infrastructure

Develop a new strategic transport partnership approach

Make sustainable travel choices more attractive

Increase Sustainable Tourism

Support Low Carbon Businesses

Grow Green and Nature-based Jobs and Skills

Enable more local living and working

Adapt to Climate Change and Restore Nature

Progress Update

Steps are already being taken to deliver against these goals.

The Oak Tree Inn, in Balmaha, is a great example of a local tourism business taking action to address the climate emergency, whilst continuing to develop their business.

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Climate Emergency in The National Park - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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The National Park is a special place for everyone to respect, protect and enjoy. We all have a role to play in keeping it that way.

Being a responsible visitor starts before you even leave home. Plan ahead so you can make the most of your visit, avoid disappointment and minimise your impact on climate and nature.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The National Park is a special place for everyone to respect, protect and enjoy. We all have a role to play in keeping it that way.

Being a responsible visitor starts before you even leave home. Plan ahead so you can make the most of your visit, avoid disappointment and minimise your impact on climate and nature.

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Be a responsible visitor - #LetsDoNetZero

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The National Park is a special place for everyone to respect, protect and enjoy. We all have a role to play in keeping it that way. Being a responsible visitor starts before you even leave home. Plan ahead so you can make the most of your visit, avoid disappointment and minimise your impact on climate and nature.

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Compared with 2019, there was a 32% increase (837 bags) in the total amount of litter recorded in 2021. In the peak months of July - September, Rangers recorded 10% more litter compared to the same period last year.

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As we welcome campers back to our sites we continue to encourage everyone to enjoy their visit responsibly. To help with this we have produced a new video featuring Ranger Jenny offering Des Clarke some advice on how to enjoy a camping trip while also minimising the impact on the local environment.

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National Parks are major tourism attractions in countries around the world. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park itself attracts millions of visitors every year because of its world-renowned natural beauty, extensive outdoor recreation opportunities, its close proximity to the large population centres of central Scotland and accessibility by road and rail.

This volume of visitors presents us with both great opportunities and some significant challenges. Traditionally, the National Park’s visitor profile is predominantly high numbers of day visitors in periods of good weather. Historically this has meant a highly seasonal, weather dependent visitor economy that creates significant visitor pressures in some of the most popular areas of the Park.
Without appropriate management these pressures have a negative effect on the experience for visitors to these popular areas.
They can also affect the quality of environment, economy and community life.

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Camping Management Byelaws were introduced to parts of the National Park in 2017 to help minimise the environmental impact on and around popular lochshores where millions of visitors come each year.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Camping in the Park: Feedback & Publications | Park Authority

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Camping Management Byelaws were introduced to parts of the National Park in 2017 to help minimise the environmental impact on and around popular lochshores where millions of visitors come each year.

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The map includes places of interest such as walking and cycling routes, popular hills, places to camp and where to likely to spot wildlife such as red squirrels.

Facilities shown include places to park, toilets, water fill ups and Electric Vehicle charging points. For some facilities, the map displays real-time information to show how busy it is and how busy it is likely to be.

It also has visitor numbers to our National Park Centre at Balmaha and the very popular Conic Hill path. How does the weather impact these numbers? Have a look at the map and see what else you can find out.

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Welcome to the Explore Outdoors interactive map.

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Our main web page with all the information you need

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Our Education team are happy to help with any resources or support for digital / remote learning during this time so please get in touch if you have any questions. Find out more about our response to Coronavirus/Covid-19.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is a unique treasure trove of wildlife and natural beauty that provides the perfect outdoor classroom, offering fantastic opportunities to experience nature.

Outdoor learning not only enables an awareness of the natural environment - encouraging care and appreciation of it - being immersed in nature has fantastic health benefits too and can improve the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children and adults.

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Our Education team are happy to help with any resources or support for digital / remote learning during this time so please get in touch if you have any questions. Find out more about our response to Coronavirus/Covid-19.

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National Park Scotland Act sets out the aims for both of Scotland's National Park -

We have four aims, each one designed to safeguard a sustainable future:

Conserve and enhance – we protect and promote the natural and cultural heritage of the area

Sustainability – we promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area

Understanding and enjoyment – we encourage people to enjoy the special qualities of the area

Social and economic development – we promote sustainable development of the communities in the area

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One of Scotland's National Parks has 22 lochs in which to swim, sail and paddle. The other contains 55 Munros - including five of the UK's six highest peaks.

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Geography Resources on the National Park Website

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Geography Resources on the National Park Website

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Our main page for Geography information

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. Spectacular lochs, rivers and waterfalls are central to the beauty and culture of the area and its world renowned scenery has inspired artists and writers for centuries and is enjoyed by millions of visitors year on year.

The breath-taking landscapes of the National Park attract more than 4 million visitors each year, and our visitor research tells us:

Sightseeing is the main activity followed by walking.

A significant proportion of visitors come for active sport.

Eating out and cultural heritage are areas which require development to become greater attractors for visitors.

Around 60% of our visitors are from Scotland, groups of families and friends on a day visit.

The landscape of the National Park has been influenced throughout history by human activities such as farming, forestry and estate management as well as recreation and housing requirements. These competing demands can often have a negative impact on the National Park and lead to conflict between different user groups.

Watch our video on land use

Resources

The following information about the National Park can support Geography teachers to deliver lessons on land use and conflict management. These suggested hyperlinks can give students an opportunity to process and analyse this type of data themselves.

The Great Trossachs Forest - one of the most significant native woodland projects in the UK for a generation. You can download educational resources specifically designed for Secondary School pupils and covering a range of elements within the Curriculum for Excellence including geography, expressive arts and biology. This pre-prepared resource is a good source of inspiration for environmental, literacy, numeracy and cooperative learning themes and can be taught in the classroom or to facilitate outdoor learning.

Rural Land Use Pack - Conflict & Resolution - The National Park combines an internationally important environment with a fragile rural economy and a renowned visitor destination. Find out about how we manage the conflicts this brings in our new education pack.

Geography padlet - This resources features information on a wide variety of topics regarding visitor management, sustainable tourism and landscapes in the National Park.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. Spectacular lochs, rivers and waterfalls are central to the beauty and culture of the area and its world renowned scenery has inspired artists and writers for centuries and is enjoyed by millions of visitors year on year.

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A short film clip

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Arial films of three different lochs in the National Park 

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Arial films of three different lochs in the National Park 

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Drone footage of Loch Lomond, Loch Achray and Loch Voil. Great clips of various different landscapes.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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We know many of you will be missing the beauty of nature during the Coronavirus lochdown. So to brighten your day while we stay home to save lives, we've created some virtual Lochdown tours of the National Park.

Loch Lomond

See one of Scotland's most iconic lochs from a different perspective...

Loch Achray

The enchanting Loch Achray is a small freshwater loch in the heart of the Trossachs.

Loch Voil

Loch Voil is a beautiful loch situated in a historic area known as Rob Roy country.

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Aerial tours of the National Park | #Lochdown

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We know many of you will be missing the beauty of nature during the Coronavirus lochdown. So to brighten your day while we stay home to save lives, we've created some virtual Lochdown tours of the National Park. See one of Scotland's most iconic lochs from a different perspective...

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Leaflet and trail of a 2 hour walk that takes you back through time!

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A short animation showing the glacial processes that shaped Loch Lomond.

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This booklet briefly describes the rocks and landforms along the trails around Callander.

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Interpreting the Landscape through the medium of Chocolate!

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How to do the activity guide

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The National Park combines an internationally important environment with a fragile rural economy and a renowned visitor destination.
Find out about how we manage the conflicts this brings with the help of our case studies

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Rural Land Use - Case Studies on Conflict & Resolution | Outdoor learning case studies

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The National Park combines an internationally important environment with a fragile rural economy and a renowned visitor destination. Find out about how we manage the conflicts this brings in our new education pack by clicking here or download each individual case study from the list below

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It is a place of contrasts, from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands.
It is also a living, working landscape which has been influenced by people for generations and is visited and enjoyed by many for its recreational value.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland and is split into four distinct areas.

It is a place of contrasts, from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. It is also a living, working landscape which has been influenced by people for generations and is visited and enjoyed by many for its recreational value.

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park became fully operational on 19 July 2002 and was officially opened by Princess Anne on 24 July 2002.

Key facts

The Park is 1,865 sq km (720 sq miles) and has a boundary length of 350km (220miles).

50% of Scotland's population lives within an hour's drive of the National Park.

There are 21 Munros (mountains above 3,000ft) in the Park and the highest is Ben More at 1,174m.

There are 19 Corbetts (mountains between 2,500ft and 3,000ft).

There are 22 larger lochs, with numerous smaller lochs and lochans, and about 50 rivers and large burns.

15,168 people live in the National Park (2011 census).

There are two Forest Parks - Queen Elizabeth in the Trossachs and Argyll in Cowal.

The National Park contains one of the UK's largest National Nature Reserves - The Great Trossachs Forest.

Ben Lomond National Memorial Park is Scotland's national memorial to those who have died in conflict.

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The National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland and is split into four distinct areas. It is a place of contrasts, from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands.

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Improvement Action Plan for Balloch Pierhead

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Improvement Action Plan for Balloch Pierhead

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The aim of the project was to shape an Improvement Action Plan for Balloch Pierhead through active engagement with the local community and key stakeholders. The brief set out an ambition to deliver proposals that responded to the needs of both local users and stakeholders, while remaining sensitive to the site’s heritage and natural environment.

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The National Park is very close to a large number of urban areas and can receive high levels of visitor pressure, which often includes informal camping activity around loch shores.

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With many popular hill routes, the National Park is used regularly by walkers which can result in pressures on certain sensitive hill and mountain habitats.

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This is data from 2019 for the popular hill route up Ben A'an.

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Loch Lomond is the largest body of freshwater in mainland Britain. The loch and its islands are used by visitors throughout the year for a range of recreation interests.

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This 3 min film clip gives you a great introduction to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Explore Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park 2014

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The wet, wild mountains of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park are  the perfect place for this important habitat to form but they need protected.

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Ranger Manager Leigh Hamilton walks you through our responsible camping guidelines, and helps you enjoy your trip safely and sustainably!

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As we welcome campers back to our sites we continue to encourage everyone to enjoy their visit responsibly. To help with this we have produced a new video featuring Ranger Jenny offering Des Clarke some advice on how to enjoy a camping trip while also minimising the impact on the local environment.

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Camping is welcome throughout the National Park but in order to protect some of our most cherished lochshores, byelaws covering camping and firelighting are in effect in some parts of the Park between March and September. Camping from October to February is unaffected.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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National Park facilities have begun to reopen from Friday 3rd July but this will be a phased approach please Think, Check and Plan ahead by going to our Camping Management Byelaws are still in effect between 1st March and 30th September and are being enforced by Police Scotland. Find out more about our response to Coronavirus / COVID-19 . page
Camping is welcome throughout the National Park but in order to protect some of our most cherished lochshores, byelaws covering camping and firelighting are in effect in some parts of the Park between March and September. Camping from October to February is unaffected.

The camping byelaws were introduced to help minimise the environmental impact of the millions of visitors who come to the National Park every year. By managing visitor numbers and promoting responsible camping within the National Park, we can protect this special landscape for future generations.

The byelaws create Camping Management Zones covering less than 4% of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Camping outside of these areas is unaffected.

Camping within these Zones (March - September) is only possible in campsites or with a camping permit.

In addition to the many campsites already within the National Park, alongside the byelaws the Park Authority has committed to providing at least 300 low-cost camping spaces across the National Park.

Permit areas

A number of camping places are in permit areas (some with basic facilities), where you can still have a 'wild camping' experience as described in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code ( Outdooraccess-scotland.com), but want to stay within one of the Camping Management Zones.

The cost of camping permits within the permit areas are £3 per tent or motorhome/campervan per night. Permits can be booked online here.

Campsites

In addition to the many campsites already in the National Park, there are also Your Park informal campsites with bookable pitches, parking and basic facilities. Your Park campsites at Loch Chon and Loch Achray cost £7 per adult per night, with under 16s going free.

The cost of camping at private campsites varies depending on the level of facilities on offer.

Fires

The byelaws also cover irresponsible fire-lighting, including collecting firewood. If you want to have a fire when you are camping, make sure you build it in a place where it will cause no damage or use a fire bowl. You must bring your own wood, as collecting firewood has a damaging effect on wildlife in the area.

Staying safe

Please be aware that ticks (which can carry Lyme disease) are present in the National Park, especially during the Spring and Summer months. Read up on tick safety and precautions before your visit.

Respect Your Park

We want everyone to be able to make the most of the National Park.

National Park Rangers will always offer advice and continue to encourage visitors to enjoy the Park responsibly through sharing our Respect Your Park advice.

However, please be aware that refusal to comply with the byelaws could result in a report to the Procurator Fiscal and a fine of up to £500.

If you are coming to camp in the National Park please make sure you plan ahead.

We are committed to listening to feedback from visitors and using this to inform improvements to camping in the National Park where possible. Read an overview on changes we have made based on feedback.

You'll find some useful questions and answers about the byelaws here.

Planning a trip to the National Park?

You can now download a quick guide to the byelaws in German, Spanish, French or Polish.

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National Park facilities have begun to reopen from Friday 3rd July but this will be a phased approach please Think, Check and Plan ahead by going to our Camping Management Byelaws are still in effect between 1st March and 30th September and are being enforced by Police Scotland.

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It may be the most natural thing in the world but that doesn’t mean it’s ok to ‘dump’ it anywhere.

Not only does poo look and smell pretty bad, it can be harmful to people and wildlife too.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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It may be the most natural thing in the world but that doesn't mean it's ok to 'dump' it anywhere.

Not only does poo look and smell pretty bad, it can be harmful to people and wildlife too.

Make sure you know what to do when you need to poo in the great outdoors as outlined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

First things first, if you can, make sure you 'go' before you go. Check our handy map of Last Chance Loo Stops around the National Park to see where your nearest toilets are.

If you do need to poo when you're out and about there are two options:

It won't always be possible to bury your waste, for example you might not be able to get 30m from water or buildings, or the ground might not be suitable for digging.

Think about where you're going to be and plan ahead for option two:

Always make sure you bag and bin toilet paper and sanitary items too.

You might also want to take some hand sanitiser and if you want to there are a range of things you can buy to bring with you such as special outdoor poo packs or even portable toilets.

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What to do when you need to poo | Camping

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It may be the most natural thing in the world but that doesn't mean it's ok to 'dump' it anywhere. Not only does poo look and smell pretty bad, it can be harmful to people and wildlife too. Make sure you know what to do when you need to poo in the great outdoors as outlined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

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Camping Management Byelaws Annual Updates

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Camping Management Byelaws Annual Updates

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As part of the approval, we committed to producing an annual update on the operation of the Byelaws. These annual updates go to the National Park Authority Board for approval prior to submission to Scottish Ministers.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The Camping Management Byelaws were approved by Scottish Ministers in January 2016.

As part of the approval, we committed to producing an annual update on the operation of the Byelaws. These annual updates go to the National Park Authority Board for approval prior to submission to Scottish Ministers.

Annual Update 2019

This update covers the camping season from 1st March to 30th September 2019:

Annual Update 2018

This update covers the camping season from 1st March to 30th September 2018:

Annual Update 2017

This update covers the camping season from 1st March to 30th September 2017:

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The Camping Management Byelaws were approved by Scottish Ministers in January 2016. As part of the approval, we committed to producing an annual update on the operation of the Byelaws. These annual updates go to the National Park Authority Board for approval prior to submission to Scottish Ministers.

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Evaluation of visitor experiences of camping in the National Park

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Evaluation of visitor experiences of camping in the National Park

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Final Report - 2019

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Reducing the Carbon Footprint for Visitors

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Reducing the Carbon Footprint for Visitors

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If you’re planning a trip to the National Park, it’s important to consider the impact your visit could have on the landscape and wildlife in the area. Everyone has a role to play in protecting this special place, and the little things we do can make a big difference!  This little clip explains more as well.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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If you're planning a trip to the National Park, it's important to consider the impact your visit could have on the landscape and wildlife in the area. Everyone has a role to play in protecting this special place, and the little things we do can make a big difference!

At Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, we support the Scottish Government's vision for a litter-free Scotland. That's why this #ScotClimateWeek, we've partnered with Zero Waste Scotland to provide you with some tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle when visiting the National Park.

Following these simple tips will prevent unnecessary waste going to landfill and help to keep the National Park beautiful.

Ditch the disposables: If you're bringing a picnic or snacks for a day of exploring, use reusable containers and bottles so you don't need to discard of any waste when out in the wilderness.

Stand against throwaway culture: For camping trips and other outdoor pursuits, invest in tents and other gear that can be used over and over again, rather than leaving valuable materials in our natural environment. Leaving tents and other items behind is flytipping and you could be fined.

Be prepared: Before you set off on an adventure, remember to check local maps and signs to ensure you know where your nearest bins, toilets and recycling facilities are located. Our 'last chance loo stops' page offers a handy guide to public toilets in the National Park.

Bag and bin it: If you do need to get rid of items while you're out and there's no bin nearby, please keep hold of your waste. Don't leave rubbish behind, as this spoils the location for other visitors, can cause harm to wildlife and costs money to clean up.

Nik Turner, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Litter Prevention Manager, added: 'The National Park is one of Scotland's most iconic destinations and we're pleased to welcome anyone who wishes to come and explore this beautiful area. However, it is vitally important that we all play our part in ensuring that the wildlife and natural beauty of this area is protected. The key thing to remember when visiting the National Park is to leave no trace and take any waste home with you. To minimise your impact, try and bring reusable items such as water bottles, food boxes and good quality camping or hiking gear that doesn't need to be thrown away after one or two uses.'

We're committed to working with partners to reduce the amount of waste in the National Park and to encourage communities to take direct action.

Find out more about looking after the National Park.
This blog post was written in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, a not-for-profit environmental organisation that focuses on leading Scotland to use products and resources responsibly, in order to have the greatest impact on climate change. You can follow our activities for #ScotClimateWeek on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Tips for reducing your waste when visiting the National Park | News

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If you're planning a trip to the National Park, it's important to consider the impact your visit could have on the landscape and wildlife in the area. Everyone has a role to play in protecting this special place, and the little things we do can make a big difference!

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Cars are a major contributor to carbon emissions in the National Park. 79% of visitors arrive here by car and 73% explore the area by car.

Of the six categories of emissions that we’re aiming to reduce, this is the largest at 34%.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Cars are a major contributor to carbon emissions in the National Park. 79% of visitors arrive here by car and 73% explore the area by car.

Of the six categories of emissions that we're aiming to reduce, this is the largest at 34%.

Challenge

Part of the reason for the volume of cars is because large parts of the National Park can't be reached any other way. This also means that access to the Park isn't equal for everyone.

Public transport across the country and within the National Park is designed more for residents than visitors. Although many local people, particularly young people, don't feel current transport services meet their needs either.

Tackling the lack of choice in rural public transport is a crucial part of becoming a Net Zero National Park and becoming Carbon Negative. It will also provide more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the National Park.

Solution

To reduce the emissions caused by cars we need to make it easier and more attractive for people to travel to, from and around the National Park.

Services need to be more joined up so they're more convenient, priced in a way which makes them more attractive and promoted so people are encouraged to use them.

This requires a 'whole system' approach which will involve several organisations working together to make it happen.

Goal

The goal is for there to be a National Park transport system for visitors and residents that is efficient, inclusive and low carbon.

Steps to take

Improve travel infrastructure

Develop a new strategic transport partnership approach

Make sustainable travel choices more attractive

Improve travel routes and services

Provide a high-quality recreational path network

Progress Update

Steps are already being taken to deliver against these goals.

Work is currently underway to transform Tarbet Pier Picnic site, West Loch Lomond, into a low-carbon destination.

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Transport and Travel - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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Renewable energy - Hydro Electric Power (HEP)

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Renewable energy - Hydro Electric Power (HEP)

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Hydro Electric Power (HEP) generation involves the extraction of energy from moving water. The amount of energy generated depends on the volume and flow of water and water pressure.

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Watch a short film by our Ranger Adam demonstrating the important job peat bogs do in helping to combat Climate Change

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'Bog in a Bottle': Peatlands Learning Activity

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Download this how to guide to run this simple experiment at school or home.

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A joint campaign featuring people who live and work in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has been launched to urge people who visit the area to ‘love it like a local’ and take their litter home.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The National Park is a special place that is loved by many. Show your respect for the Park by loving it like a local.

Scotland is experiencing a never before seen level of littering following the easing of lockdown. This behaviour is not acceptable anywhere, but nowhere is it more upsetting than in our rural areas where people enjoy the outstanding scenery and natural beauty.

As more people are once again able to visit this special place, we have teamed up with Local Authorities and communities around the National Park to urge everyone to respect the area and treat it as they would want their own home to be treated.

The ask is very simple: bin your litter, or take it home.

How are we asking people to 'love it like a local'?

'Love It Like A Local' is a communications campaign that will be seen both online and physically throughout the Park.

Signs are being put up in specific areas around the National Park to remind people to do the right thing when it comes to their rubbish.

In gateway villages and popular tourist hotspots, these signs show images of National Park residents welcoming responsible visitors back to the area and reminding everyone to treat the area as if they live here too. This strand of messaging is designed to give the majority of people, who are largely responsible when visiting the Park, a gentle nudge to correctly dispose of their litter.
Paul and Eira from Callander
Alongside these prompt signs which welcome positive behaviour, a second strand of messaging will be used in targeted locations, which will highlight the disapproval everyone who loves the Park feels towards littering. These signs are placed at key locations that have a history of littering or flytipping incidents, and put a face to the National Park and local authority staff who have to deal with the aftermath of those inconsiderate people who leave their waste at these beauty spots. These signs show that it is not just us that think this behaviour is unacceptable, they also include real social media comments made by others who hate to see these special places blighted by litter.

In addition to the onsite signage, a digital communications campaign will be delivered by stakeholders responsible for looking after the National Park. This will be targeted to reach people before they even arrive, so they clearly understand the responsible behaviour that is expected of them.

'Love It Like A Local' is just one element of the National Park Authority's litter prevention activities, which are structured around our forthcoming Litter and Waste Prevention Strategy. This outlines the key elements of litter prevention: effective engagement and appropriate infrastructure to support responsible waste behaviours, and proportionate enforcement to deter littering behaviour. This ongoing partnership work to coordinate litter and waste services and enforcement activites will continue to support 'Love It Like A Local'.

Join us in our war against litter

Everyone has a part to play in looking after the National Park. Here's how you can get involved in the campaign and urge everyone to love the area like a local:

Set an example: when out and about in the National Park, show others how to act responsibly by binning your litter or taking it home with you.

Share our materials: Download our toolkit of posters below to put up in your business or local area. Be sure to let us know at feedback@lochlomond-trossachs.org that you are joining us in urging people to dispose of their litter responsibly. You can also tag us in any pictures of this on social by using @lomondtrossachs or #LikeALocal.

Stay up to date: This will be a phased campaign, with more activity and events planned throughout the summer. Keep informed of what is planned by reading our latest blogs and updates.

Get in touch: Have an idea for a key location where we should put up signs, or want to be the face of the campaign in your community? Drop us a line at feedback@lochlomond-trossachs.org to discuss how we can support you to get involved.

Download and share these materials to show your support

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Love It Like A Local | Be a responsible visitor

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The National Park is a special place that is loved by many. Show your respect for the Park by loving it like a local. Scotland is experiencing a never before seen level of littering following the easing of lockdown.

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21 people charged for irresponsible camping.

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21 people charged for irresponsible camping.

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Campers left significant amounts of litter, including large items of camping equipment such as chairs and sleeping bags, broken glass and full bin bags of rubbish

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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More than 20 people have been charged in relation to irresponsible camping and environmental damage in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park over the first weekend after travel restrictions were lifted.

Despite the wet weather, campers left significant amounts of litter, including large items of camping equipment such as chairs and sleeping bags, broken glass and full bin bags of rubbish, and caused irreparable fire damage to trees and the ground in a number of locations around the National Park.

At one site 19 bags of litter were collected and ten at another. At a separate site a tree was so badly damaged by fire it may need to be felled.

This happened in spite of national guidance asking people not to go camping until the 15 th July.

21 individuals have been charged under the Camping Management Byelaws 2017, which cover certain areas of the National Park creating Camping Management Zones between March and September each year.

Within these zones, people can only camp in a campsite or a pre-booked camping permit area. All National Park Authority campsites and camping permit areas remain closed due to Covid-19 in line with Scottish Government guidance.

The byelaws are enforced by both National Park Rangers and Police Scotland and can result in a fine of up to £500.

Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, said: "It's devastating to see the images of the of litter and damage caused by people camping over the weekend. Not only is this irresponsible behaviour and environmental damage a blatant breach of the byelaws, it is also happening at a time when the national guidance is that people shouldn't be going camping at all.

"While I can understand people's desire to get out and enjoy the outdoors after such a long time being in lockdown I cannot understand why anyone would think it's ok to destroy the place they've visited in this way. We cannot replace nature easily, or at the speed we are seeing it destroyed.

"It's infuriating for those living in the local communities in the National Park to see this kind of behaviour on their doorstep and it's incredibly frustrating for the National Park Authority, and in particularly our Rangers who come across these scenes, to have to divert valuable time and resources to cleaning up the mess left behind by others, especially right now when we want to be focusing all of our efforts on ensuring people can return to enjoy the National Park safely.

"The message is clear, people should not be camping right now and we are working extremely closely with our partners in Police Scotland to take action against this type of damaging behaviour when we need to."

Chief Inspector Gill Marshall said: "Between Friday 3 July and Sunday 5 July 2020, a total of 21 people were charged with breaches of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Camping Management Byelaws.

"These offences related to the setting up of unofficial camps, setting fires, and causing damage to the environment, including fire damage to trees which occurred across South Loch Earn, Loch Venacher and the Loch Ard area. There were also unacceptable levels of littering.

"We want everyone to enjoy the experience of the National Park and this has been the case for the majority. Unfortunately, a small number of visitors have failed to respect the local environment and community.

"We will continue to work tirelessly with our colleagues in the National Parks to address these issues through joint patrols and would urge members of the public to report any instances of antisocial behaviour or other offences they see while visiting the Park.

The Scottish Government guidance is that there should be no camping in tents, where campers would have to rely on shared facilities, or in the wild, since this is not 'booked' in advance so numbers cannot be managed.

Those who want to camp in tents in the wild, or in campsites using shared facilities, are asked to wait until it is confirmed that Scotland's tourism sector can re-open. The Scottish Government hope to do this on 15th July 2020.

The provisional date for reopening of National Park campsites and permit areas is 17 th July subject to the Scottish Government confirming their proposed date for all tourism accommodation reopening from the 15 th.

For more information on camping in the National Park go to www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/camping.
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21 people charged for irresponsible camping in National Park | News

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More than 20 people have been charged in relation to irresponsible camping and environmental damage in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park over the first weekend after travel restrictions were lifted.

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Different types of bins and waste management in the National Park 

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Different types of bins and waste management in the National Park 

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A simple summary with information of the different types of bins, their locations, the frequency of being emptied and who is responsible for them.

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Keep Scotland Beautiful 2015 Environmental Quality Report. 

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Keep Scotland Beautiful 2015 Environmental Quality Report. 

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In 2015 Keep Scotland Beautiful was commissioned by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to audit and report on the local environmental quality standards

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A summary of litter and waste management in the National Park in 2018

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This map shows the different types and locations of bins for the public to use at Luss, as well as the complex variety of landowners. How many bins are there and why so many?

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There is a substantial history of mineral extraction in the National Park with building materials tending to reflect the nature of the local geology

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News article about the issues of irresponsible car parking in the National Park.

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Visitors to Arrochar and Luss are being urged to park responsibly this weekend, following last weekend when 86 Penalty Charge Notices were served.

The majority of the notices were for vehicles parked where they clearly should not be ie in disabled parking spaces, in places reserved for coaches or outwith bays.

Parking management is there to keep traffic flowing and to give as many people as possible the chance to use facilities - whether shops or countryside - safely. Inconsiderate parking is hindering traffic flow in both Luss and Arrochar, and problems are being caused in Luss by cars and campervans taking up space reserved for coaches.

Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Housing, Roads and Infrastructure Services, said: "We understand that, after lockdown, people want to get out and enjoy the countryside again. That's great and we're happy to welcome you. We would ask that care is taken with the communities you visit.

"The number of notices served last weekend shows the worrying extent irresponsible parking has reached. I would add that parking in spaces reserved for disabled people is completely unacceptable and we will continue to enforce PCNs on inconsiderate parking where necessary.

"If a car park is full, please, please do not park carelessly. Turn around and come back another time. This will all be waiting for you at a later date."

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Visitors to Arrochar and Luss are being urged to park responsibly this weekend, following last weekend when 86 Penalty Charge Notices were served. The majority of the notices were for vehicles parked where they clearly should not be ie in disabled parking spaces, in places reserved for coaches or outwith bays.

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News article about irresponsible car parking in the National Park.

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Police have fined 70 drivers over illegal parking on a road skirting Loch Lomond.

Officers were called out on Saturday to help Stirling Council workers enforce parking regulations in the area.

They said the parked vehicles on the road between Balmaha and Rowardennan posed a danger to other road users and issued 70 fixed penalty notices.

Photographs posted to social media showed lines of parked cars blocking the route.

Forth Valley Police tweeted: "On Sat, 1 Aug, 2020, officers assisted our partners from Stirling Council enforcing the C6 road clearway between Balmaha and Rowardennan due to high numbers of vehicles parked illegally and causing a danger to other road users.

"A total of 70 fixed penalty tickets were issued."

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Police fine 70 drivers over 'dangerous' loch parking

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Police have fined 70 drivers over illegal parking on a road skirting Loch Lomond. Officers were called out on Saturday to help Stirling Council workers enforce parking regulations in the area. They said the parked vehicles on the road between Balmaha and Rowardennan posed a danger to other road users and issued 70 fixed penalty notices.

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Our Mission Zero Route Map PowerPoint Slides

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National ParkCamping Management Byelaws 2017

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National ParkCamping Management Byelaws 2017

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Three Year Report to Scottish Ministers

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Find out more information on the causes and impacts to the quality of the water at the beach at Luss on Loch Lomond

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Guest blog: So, what is affordable housing? (a provider’s perspective)

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Guest blog: So, what is affordable housing? (a provider’s perspective)

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“Affordable housing” is a term that is frequently used but less often understood

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Guest blog: So, what is affordable housing? (a provider's perspective) | Blog

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Tony Teasdale is Director of Rural Stirling Housing Association - a not-for profit, community controlled charity that has developed over 600 affordable homes for rent and low-cost home-ownership in the rural Stirling area - the majority within the National Park.

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Follow the oak-lined shore of Loch Lomond and climb up on to Craigie Fort, a magnificent viewpoint overlooking the loch, its islands and Ben Lomond. A great spot to discuss land uses and a great photo opportunity!

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Understanding the causes of erosion in our mountains is an important first step in identifying how these can be tackled. To do this we undertake surveys

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The Rest and Be Thankful: An infamous road through 'a mountain in torment'

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The A83 runs for almost 100 miles from Loch Lomond to Campbeltown, at the foot of the Kintyre peninsula. But there is one section, near the Rest and Be Thankful, which has become infamous for landslips, closures and long diversions.

James MacDonald and his family watched in horror as 30,000 tonnes of rock and mud churned its way down the side of the mountain towards them.

He later described the landslide as "boiling with gyrations and spurts of water" and the noise of an "indescribable roar - the roar of a mountain in torment".

The road near Arrochar became impassable as the debris hurtled down, and flooded the Glen Croe valley below.

But this landslide is not the one that has closed the mountain road for the last three weeks; nor was it then known as the A83.

MacDonald's testimony is from 1913.

"These landslips have always happened here," says Mary Haggarty.

"They've just become something that we've learned to live with".

Mary, who chairs the local heritage group, has lived in Arrochar since her birth in 1942.

An old school log from February 1913 states matter-of-factly that "attendance [is] reduced this week owing to a landslip having occurred rendering the road impassable for those of the scholars who had to come by it".

"It wasn't such a big deal then - people just got out with shovels and cleared the roads themselves," Mary says.

"And people would just use steamer ships to get to where they wanted to go."

But times, it seems, have changed.

"There's heavier traffic now, and life moves faster with people in a rush to get to places," she says.

The A83 provides a vital link to towns such as Inveraray, Lochgilphead and Campbeltown and the Kintyre peninsula, and is used by 4,000 vehicles a day.

Mary's great-grandfather John Bell was a roadman who was employed to maintain the track through Glen Croe as it snaked its way north to Inverary.

He worked the road in 1913 when it was hit by a landslide, and in 1926 another landslip almost carried away his house.

Of course back then it wasn't called the A83. For centuries the pass has been affectionately known as The Rest and Be Thankful, or simply The Rest.

The climb out of Glen Croe is so long and steep that it was traditional for travellers and drovers to rest at the top, and be thankful for having made the highest point (803 feet).

What had been just a valley track for centuries, started to become a road proper in 1743 in response to the Jacobite uprisings.

General George Wade recommended the construction of more than 40 miles of road which would link a series of military forts.

By the 1920s the track was in disrepair, and a London Times editorial lamented its maintenance as "an impossible burden" for the taxpayers of the Highland counties.

As a result, construction on a new road began in 1937 at a cost of £100,000 - that's nearly £7m at today's prices.

Construction continued despite the onset of World War Two and the new road - sitting 150 metres to the east of the old military road - was completed in 1941.

But while travellers may be thankful to reach the top, the slope above the pass has been restless.

Dr Andrew Finlayson - a geomorphologist from the British Geological Survey - attributes this to the steep slopes, the sediment on the hillsides, and spells of high rainfall. When water gets into the sediment, this reduces its strength.

"The glaciers that once flowed here have contributed to these conditions by eroding steeper slopes and piling up sediment high on the hillsides," he says.

"When the glaciers melted the sediment was no longer supported by the ice margins, so in places it can be susceptible to landsliding."

Most of the "debris flow" in the area took place in the first few centuries after the last glaciers melted - about 11,500 years ago.

"The landscape now is much more stable than it was then, but we still see this episodic behaviour driven by rainfall events," he says.

On sunny days a series of small valleys, caused by previous landslides, cast shadows accentuating these scars across the south-western slope of Beinn Luibhean.

It is here, near the base of the 858m high mountain, where The Rest has been carved into its side.

In recent years the road it has become infamous for the number of closures caused by landslips.

It was closed for 17 days in October 2007, and since then nine more landslides have left the road impassable.

It was blocked in September 2009, December 2011, August 2012, October 2013, October 2014, October 2015, October 2018 - and twice this year.

About 1,000 tonnes of debris closed the road in January, and earlier this month it was blocked by 6,000 tonnes of debris - including "car-sized boulders" - after heavy rain.

When the The Rest is closed, the Old Military Road is used to convoy vehicles up the pass in a single file. If both roads are shut, drivers face a lengthy diversion.

Transport Scotland has invested more than £13.6m in landslide measures in the area. This work is estimated to have helped keep The Rest open for 48 days when it would otherwise have closed.

This is just part of the £82m invested in the wider maintenance of the A83 since 2007.

The work includes four "catchpits", which have now been completed, with a total capacity of almost 15,000 tonnes.

Mary Haggarty says any closures of the road now have a greater economic impact than they did when she was growing up - simply because Arrochar is now so reliant on tourism.

The losses associated with the 2007 landslide were estimated to be about £80,000 per day - which comes to £1.2m over the 15 day closure.

The road has already been closed for more than three weeks as a result of the landslide on 5 August this year.

The Scottish government has asked Transport Scotland to speed up its work on providing a long-term solution to dealing with the problem.

Jim Young, a former chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland, says environmental shifts are now an additional challenge.

"We know that in whatever form it may be - whether it's heavier rainstorms, changing temperature - climate change is upon us and it will impact on various bits of our infrastructure," he says.

"Roads are the obvious one. Whatever happens, we've got to look at the whole infrastructure systems that support our society."

All images are copyrighted.

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The Rest and Be Thankful: An infamous road through 'a mountain in torment'

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The A83 runs for almost 100 miles from Loch Lomond to Campbeltown, at the foot of the Kintyre peninsula. But there is one section, near the Rest and Be Thankful, which has become infamous for landslips, closures and long diversions.

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We all have a part to play to keep the National Park special. Here's how you can #RespectProtectEnjoy the area when you visit.

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Videos and clips from the team at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

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Upland path repairs required on Conic Hill

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Upland path repairs required on Conic Hill

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Dave Robinson, Recreation and Access Officer at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, explains the impact large numbers of visitors are having on the path up Conic Hill.

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it’s important we all do our bit to keep Scotland as glorious as we can for now, and for the future generations

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Scotland, Yours to Enjoy. Responsibly - VisitScotland clip

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Scotland, Yours to Enjoy. Responsibly - VisitScotland clip

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Litter campaign

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British Geological Survey (BGS)- Surveying Loch Lomond fly-through

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British Geological Survey (BGS)- Surveying Loch Lomond fly-through

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The BGS and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority collaborated to produce a new navigation chart of Loch Lomond. The chart dataset can also be analysed for a variety of scientific purposes including geological interpretation.

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Loch Lomond is an iconic and special place, for its value to nature and the environment, for the multiple recreation and wellbeing opportunities it offers, and the economic value it provides for the many businesses and communities around it. Byelaws are in place on Loch Lomond specifically, and not on other lochs in the National Park, because of the levels to which is it used by many different people, to help manage the careful balance between these multiple uses and opportunities. There have been significant changes in the type and volume of recreation activities enjoyed on Loch Lomond, particularly in recent years. While more people enjoying the Loch responsibly is a positive, these changes can increase the potential for conflict between the ways different users want to use the Loch. It is vital that the byelaws are updated to respond to these changes, ensuring they provide clear rules and guidance to support safe and responsible enjoyment of the water and robust deterrents to irresponsible and dangerous behaviours.

The Loch Lomond Byelaws must be reviewed at least once every ten years.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Share your thoughts on proposed changes to the Loch Lomond Byelaws.

Loch Lomond is an iconic and special place, for its value to nature and the environment, for the multiple recreation and wellbeing opportunities it offers, and the economic value it provides for the many businesses and communities around it.

Byelaws are in place on Loch Lomond specifically, and not on other lochs in the National Park, because of the levels to which is it used by many different people, to help manage the careful balance between these multiple uses and opportunities. There have been significant changes in the type and volume of recreation activities enjoyed on Loch Lomond, particularly in recent years. While more people enjoying the Loch responsibly is a positive, these changes can increase the potential for conflict between the ways different users want to use the Loch. It is vital that the byelaws are updated to respond to these changes, ensuring they provide clear rules and guidance to support safe and responsible enjoyment of the water and robust deterrents to irresponsible and dangerous behaviours.

The Loch Lomond Byelaws must be reviewed at least once every ten years. We have launched this public consultation to get your view on the changes being proposed in this review.

What changes are being proposed?

Six fundamental changes are being proposed to the Loch Lomond Byelaws to help meet these outcomes, along with a number of other minor revisions. These proposals have been developed based on the changes seen on the Loch in recent years, experience by the National Park Authority and our partners enforcing the byelaws, and insight from key stakeholder groups.

The six key changes being proposed in the consultation are:

the creation of zones for only low or non-powered activities, such as paddleboarding, swimming, kayaking and fishing, in order to improve safety in areas where there is a higher risk of safety issues, conflict and disturbance.

the compulsory wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs) such as lifejackets for everyone under 16 on all vessels when on open decks to improve safety for young people.

the transfer of liability for offences committed by a young person in sole charge of a powered vessel to the registered owner of the vessel when there is no supervising adult.

the introduction of a new Loch Lomond User Registration scheme, in addition to the registration of a vessel, meaning any individual using a motorised vessels must be registered with the Park Authority in advance. This is to make the identification of individuals easier in the event of a contravention.

Simplify processes around businesses operating on the loch by changing the existing Permission to Trade byelaw to focus only on businesses on the loch causing nuisance.

Amend the boundary of the existing lower speed zone around Inchmoan island to be more easily identifiable for loch users.

You can read further information on each of these proposed changes and other matters we considered in the Consultation Document. A table of all changes being proposed is also available in the document.

We encourage everyone with an interest in Loch Lomond to have their say on the changes being proposed, or let us know any alternative proposals, by submitting a response to this public consultation.

Respond to our consultation

The public consultation on the review of the Loch Lomond Byelaws is open from Wednesday 27th July 2022 until 5pm on Wednesday 19th October 2022. Views from this consultation will help shape the final proposed byelaws to be presented to the National Park Authority Board and then to Scottish Ministers for approval.

Submit a response to the consultation by reading the Consultation Document then completing our online consultation survey.

Printed copies of the Consultation Document will be available to view at the following sites where you can also pick up a printed copy of the consultation survey.

National Park sites:

Copies will soon also be available at further locations (please visit individual websites for opening times):

Maps accompanying this review are available to download below. A glossary of vessel types and terminology used in the review has also been developed to help you better understand the changes being proposed.

If you have any questions about this review, or need any help responding to the consultation, please contact us at lochlomondbyelaws@lochlomond-trossachs.org.

Loch Lomond Byelaws Review Downloads

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Loch Lomond Byelaws Review - #LetsDoNetZero

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Share your thoughts on proposed changes to the Loch Lomond Byelaws. Loch Lomond is an iconic and special place, for its value to nature and the environment, for the multiple recreation and wellbeing opportunities it offers, and the economic value it provides for the many businesses and communities around it.

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Loch Lomond Byelaw review consultation document

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Loch Lomond Byelaw review consultation document

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You can read further information on each of these proposed changes and other matters we considered in the Consultation Document. A table of all changes being proposed is also available in the document.

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Loch Lomond Byelaw Review: What has changed on Loch Lomond?

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Loch Lomond Byelaw Review: What has changed on Loch Lomond?

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There have been significant changes in the type and volume of recreation activities enjoyed on Loch Lomond, particularly in recent years.

More and more people are enjoying non-powered activities such as swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking as well as spending time by the water, even if not taking part in a specific activity. NatureScot report that nationally there has been a 10% increase in non-powered, water related activities and a 14% increase in people visiting lochs (NatureScot,, September 2021). This national upward trend in activity is generally felt by staff and stakeholders to be even higher on Loch Lomond.

At the same time, the volume of motorised craft registered with the National Park Authority for use on Loch Lomond has also increased (13% increase between 2019-21). Personal water craft (PWCs), commonly known as jet skis or jet bikes, have also become the most popular type of craft registered for use on the Loch, with a 38% increase seen in PWC registrations between 2019-21

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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There have been significant changes in the type and volume of recreation activities enjoyed on Loch Lomond, particularly in recent years.

More and more people are enjoying non-powered activities such as swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking as well as spending time by the water, even if not taking part in a specific activity. NatureScot report that nationally there has been a 10% increase in non-powered, water related activities and a 14% increase in people visiting lochs (NatureScot,, September 2021). This national upward trend in activity is generally felt by staff and stakeholders to be even higher on Loch Lomond.

At the same time, the volume of motorised craft registered with the National Park Authority for use on Loch Lomond has also increased (13% increase between 2019-21). Personal water craft (PWCs), commonly known as jet skis or jet bikes, have also become the most popular type of craft registered for use on the Loch, with a 38% increase seen in PWC registrations between 2019-21.

While more people enjoying the Loch responsibly is a positive, these changes combined also increase the potential for conflict between the ways different users want to use Loch Lomond. At times this has led to incidences of disturbance, anti-social behaviour and increased risks to different users.

The number of byelaw contraventions recorded by National Park Rangers has also significantly increased in recent years (119% increase in recorded contraventions between 2019-2021). The highest number of recorded contraventions (44%) was for speeding in lower speed limit zones. The majority of these recorded contraventions are concentrated into certain areas of the Loch where increases in other activities are also taking place.

While this may reflect a change in behaviours, it also indicates that the existing byelaws may not provide a strong enough deterrent to the minority of loch users who are not receptive to general responsible enjoyment messages.

It is recognised that some of the data presented here covers an exceptional period of time during the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-2021 when UK and international travel was restricted. This period had wide ranging impacts on recreation opportunities and behaviour. Data is continuously being collected throughout 2022 and beyond to help us better understand whether these changes in activity and behaviours on the Loch are reflective of a sustained trend or whether they will begin reverting to levels seen in prior to the pandemic. However, it is vital that the 2022 review of the Loch Lomond Byelaws takes these changes into account in order to address and manage the uses and behaviours taking place on the Loch.

The experience of the National Park Authority and Police Scotland in implementing and enforcing the byelaws over the years also provides further valuable information which must be taken into account to ensure that the byelaws can be understood and implemented as effectively as possible.

These changes and experiences, along with insight from key stakeholder groups, have been used to inform proposed changes to the Loch Lomond Byelaws outlined in our Consultation Document, particularly to create clear rules for the busiest areas of the loch to avoid accidental violations and provide deterrents and efficient enforcement processes to reduce deliberate contraventions.

Read more about the review of the Loch Lomond Byelaws and respond to the online consultation to share your views on the changes being proposed.

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Loch Lomond Byelaw Review: What has changed on Loch Lomond? - #LetsDoNetZero

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There have been significant changes in the type and volume of recreation activities enjoyed on Loch Lomond, particularly in recent years. More and more people are enjoying non-powered activities such as swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking as well as spending time by the water, even if not taking part in a specific activity.

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National Parks Film - Cairngorms & Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

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National Parks Film - Cairngorms & Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

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NatureScot asked people who live and work in Scotland's National Parks what they see as the role of a National Park and what difference they can make to local communities and businesses and the nature environment.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has completed a significant £900,000 path improvement project on Conic Hill, one of Scotland’s most iconic and popular hills.

The investment, delivered over three years (2022-2025), demonstrates the National Park Authority’s long-term commitment to protecting nature and promoting responsible visitor access, while working to support local businesses by enhancing and facilitating sustainable visitor experiences.

Conic Hill, affectionately known as a ‘Mountain in Miniature,’ draws more than 200,000 visitors annually due to its accessibility and remarkable geographic setting on the iconic banks of Loch Lomond, forming part of the internationally significant Highland Boundary Fault Line. The newly completed path infrastructure, stretching 1.4km from Balmaha Visitor Centre to the summit, features a two-metre-wide path. This facilitates responsible behaviour and enjoyment, by helping visitors remain on designated routes, safeguarding this sensitive environment.

Over 2,000 tonnes of locally sourced stone from Dumbarton quarry have been carefully transported to site by land and air, where specialised contractors expertly applied the traditional craft of stone pitching. This technique, similar to constructing a dry-stone wall laid flat into the hillside, ensures long-lasting resilience and minimal environmental impact.

Visitors are reminded that Conic Hill is part of a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with unique ecological and geological significance. By staying on the new path, everyone can play a vital role in protecting the area’s delicate biodiversity and natural landscape.

The National Park Authority is also working with local landowners and Police Scotland to address livestock worrying, urging visitors to always keep dogs on a lead.

This project’s completion aligns fittingly with the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s pioneering access legislation and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which came into force in 2005.

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Media Statement: National Park Responds to Loch Long Fish Farm Planning Application Approval

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Media Statement: National Park Responds to Loch Long Fish Farm Planning Application Approval

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Our statement in response to the notification received that Scottish Ministers have approved the application for a marine fish farm below Beinn Reithe, Loch Long.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Media Statement: National Park Responds to Loch Long Fish Farm Planning Application Approval - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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Trossachs Explorer 2025 – the story so far

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Trossachs Explorer 2025 – the story so far

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With the service now running for around 6 weeks, we’re excited to share some great feedback for the Trossachs Explorer summer bus service:

✅ Passenger numbers this year are consistently ahead of last year's weekly figures – (up to17th Aug) we’ve welcomed nearly 3,000 passengers onboard this summer!

✅ We’re also proud to report 100% reliability of the service, which also marks an improvement this year

✅ Consistent (glowing!) customer feedback and praise for the Trossachs Explorer dedicated drivers – providing a friendly welcome and going ‘above and beyond’ to ensure passengers have a fantastic experience

📽️ And here’s one of the dedicated drivers and some passengers to tell you why the Trossachs Explorer is a hit!

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#sustainabletravel #imatrossachsexplorer #welovebuses #thetrossachs #nationalpark #lochlomond | Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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🚍 Trossachs Explorer 2025 – the story so far With the service now running for around 6 weeks, we’re excited to share some great feedback for the Trossachs Explorer summer bus service: ✅ Passenger numbers this year are consistently ahead of last year’s weekly figures – (up to17th Aug) we’ve welcomed nearly 3,000 passengers onboard this summer! ✅ We’re also proud to report 100% reliability of the service, which also marks an improvement this year ✅ Consistent (glowing!) customer feedback and praise for the Trossachs Explorer dedicated drivers – providing a friendly welcome and going ‘above and beyond’ to ensure passengers have a fantastic experience 📽️ And here’s one of the dedicated drivers and some passengers to tell you why the Trossachs Explorer is a hit! #sustainabletravel #ImATrossachsExplorer #WeLoveBuses #TheTrossachs #NationalPark #LochLomond https://lnkd.in/eeb6eWjr

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Sustainable Transport - Trossachs Explorer Bus

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Sustainable Transport - Trossachs Explorer Bus

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Back on the road!

The Trossachs Explorer is back, with an expanded pilot running 7 days a week from 7th July to 5th October, connecting people to the National Park from more places.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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The Trossachs Explorer - Here. Now. All of us.

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Discover The Trossachs by bus with The Trossachs Explorer! Under 22’s and Over 60’s travel for free with a National Entitlement Card.

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https://www.linkedin.com/posts/watsongordon_massive-fire-size-of-two-rugby-pitches-activity-7325810038252396544-oGfj?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAADsp-8YBEINtTVuWlgXqGEP8OLc-RkSEaYM

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Massive fire ‘size of two rugby pitches’ in Trossachs blamed on disposable BBQ

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“Gundreds of nesting birds have been killed, along with lizards, slow worms, voles and other wildlife.”

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Wildfire warning issued over summer heatwaves

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Wildfire warning issued over summer heatwaves

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Leigh Hamilton, Ranger Service Manager at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, commented:

“The recent wildfires in the National Park highlight the devastating impact a single reckless act can have. A carelessly discarded barbecue or cigarette can destroy precious ecosystems, as well as lives and livelihoods. At this early stage in the season, we have also already seen an unprecedented number of bin fires and significant damage to visitor facilities including bins and picnic tables across our sites.

“As we face drier, more fire-prone conditions, we urge everyone to act responsibly. During high-risk periods, please avoid using any naked flames, including disposable barbecues, and ensure waste is properly disposed of. We also encourage anyone who witnesses a rural wildfire to immediately call 999 – never assume someone else has done so.”

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Multi-Agency Collaboration to Raise Wildfire Awareness as ‘no flames’ warning issued following Extreme Wildfire Alert - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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West Riverside and Woodbank House (Lomond Banks) National Park Authority Statement & Update - June 2025 

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West Riverside and Woodbank House (Lomond Banks) National Park Authority Statement & Update - June 2025 

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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West Riverside and Woodbank House (Lomond Banks) National Park Authority Statement & Update - June 2025 - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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Statement from Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority following an extremely busy weekend due to warm weather conditions

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Statement from Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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Fault Lines of the Trossachs: Ecologist Alan Bell speaks to Hidden Scotland

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Fault Lines of the Trossachs: Ecologist Alan Bell speaks to Hidden Scotland

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How does the geology of the Highland Boundary Fault Line continue to shape the landscape and lives of people in Scotland’s first National Park, and beyond?

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Fault Lines of the Trossachs: Ecologist Alan Bell speaks to Hidden Scotland - Here. Now. All of us.

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is an iconic place with outstanding landscapes, habitats and communities. We work to ensure a sustainable future for this special place.

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Impact of littering in the National Park 

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Impact of littering in the National Park 

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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Protecting Scotland’s National Parks Starts with Partnerships, and Personal Responsibility 🤝 | Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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Protecting Scotland’s National Parks Starts with Partnerships, and Personal Responsibility 🤝 Last weekend, our dedicated Environmental Officers, supported by our Ranger Team - collected over 3,125kg of litter from sites across the Park. The majority of this was waste left beside full or overflowing bins. While our three Environmental Officers focus on litter management across those sites we own or manage, such as Milarrochy Bay - they also provide vital support to other land managers and local authorities when resources allow, demonstrating the collaborative effort it takes to care for our much-loved National Park. But we can’t do it alone. Keeping the Park clean and protected is a shared responsibility. By working together, with communities, partners and every visitor -we can ensure this special place is safeguarded for generations to come. #VisitorManagement #EnvironmentalStewardship #LochLomondTrossachs #NationalPark #LeaveNoTrace #RespectProtectEnjoy

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Scotland’s only commercial gold mine – Cononish

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Scotland’s only commercial gold mine – Cononish

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The National Park welcome the initial steps being taken by the new operator at the Cononish Gold Mine. Our planning team have worked closely with the operator to ensure that environmental safeguards and planning requirements remain central to every stage of the work to recommence mining operations. Proactive engagement with the new operator to help them achieve their aspirations has been key for the National Park Authority. We look forward to continuing to work with Crown Estate Scotland and Acrux Gold to help secure wider benefits and protect Scotland’s unique natural environment.

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Cononish - gold in the heart of Scotland | Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

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We welcome the initial steps being taken by the new operator at the Cononish Gold Mine. Our planning team have worked closely with the operator to ensure that environmental safeguards and planning requirements remain central to every stage of the work to recommence mining operations. Proactive engagement with the new operator to help them achieve their aspirations has been key for the National Park Authority. We look forward to continuing to work with Crown Estate Scotland and Acrux Gold to help secure wider benefits and protect Scotland’s unique natural environment.